Day worker center will stay open Day worker center will stay open (December 14, 2005)

San Mateo County is extending its efforts to persuade day laborers who hang out on the corner of El Camino Real and Fifth Avenue to quit the streets.

The Board of Supervisors has extended a contract with El Concilio of San Mateo County to operate a day worker center at the site of the former La Fortuna Restaurant on Middlefield Road through June 30. The total cost to the county is $160,000.

Informal groups of up to 80 or more day workers hanging around the corner of El Camino Real and Fifth Avenue in unincorporated North Fair Oaks have disturbed nearby residents and businesses. Owners of the Key Market said the workers' presence deterred customers and contributed to the market's closing last April.

While the day worker center, which opened in May, attempts to provide an inviting place for the laborers to wait and seek jobs, a lot of workers still hang out on the street trying to connect with employers who are shy of using the center.

So far, about 26 workers per day come to the center, while 40 to 50 remain on the street, according to the county's evaluation.

Under the amended contract, El Concilio will keep the center open an extra day a week, and do more outreach to attract both workers and employers to the center. The county's goal is to have some 35 workers using the center by June, with 30 to 35 remaining on the street.

The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The supervisors may consider adopting an ordinance to discourage drive-by pickups.

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